I sit alone.
But I'm not alone.
Not really.
I'm talking to D.
He's not here.
But I can hear him.
"Charlie?"
I jerk back into reality.
"Mhm?"
He sighs on the other side of my phone.
"I wanted to tell you I love you before I go to bed."
I stare at a clock.
I open my mouth to tell him it's only two in the afternoon but I forget its two in the morning in Iraq.
I sigh heavily.
"I miss you, D."
I can hear the smile in his voice.
"I'll be back soon. Worry not my love."
That's what you said when you left.
Addie makes her entrance.
She doesn't work here anymore.
She doesn't like us anymore.
I avoid her gaze and turn around, clutching my phone.
I hear her take a breath.
"God on high, hear my prayer. In my need, you have always been there. He is young. He's afraid. Let him rest. Heaven blessed."
I tense up, feeling her come closer.
"Charlotte? What are you doing?"
"Bring him home. Bring him home. Bring him home."
The other side of the line goes staticky.
I drop my phone and don't turn around to face her. My legs come up to my chest. I wrap my arms around them.
"He's like the son I would have known. If god had granted me a son...the summers die, one by one. How soon they fly, on and on. And I am old. And will be gone."
I don't want to talk to her.
She hurt me for the last time.
She can't keep leaving.
I'm done.
Done.
"Bring him peace, bring him joy. He is young. Only a boy. You can take it can give. Let him live, let him be. If I die, let me die. Let him live."
I don't want her pity.
I don't need her pity.
I need my husband.
He wouldn't keep leaving me.
Wait.
"Bring him home. Bring him home. Bring him home."
Her last note is belted and beautiful.
She places a hand on my shoulder.
I grab my phone and jump away.
"Char-"
"No."
I sigh.
"I'm done waiting on you to come back. I'm done with you leaving, not telling anyone when you're coming back. I'm sick of being left behind without word."
She stares at me blankly.
"I'm done."
And I walk away.
YOU ARE READING
New York- Where Dreams are Made
General FictionCharlotte Spencer is a small town girl. She dreams her entire life of going to New York. Her life in the town she grew up in isn't exactly all sunshine and rainbows. She struggles to make it out of the horrid place and fight her way to the top. S...
